Florida Sea Turtles
Dichotomous Key
Directions: Using the following descriptions, create a dichotomous key that will allow you to correctly
identify the 5 sea turtles which can be found off Florida’s coast.
Dorsal View
Sea Turtle
Green
Hawksbill
Picture
Description
Coloration: Radiating streaks,
brown, buff
Carapace: 4 costal scutes
Length: 120cm
Head: round face, serrated jaw, 1
pair elongated prefrontal scales
Coloration: amber and brown
streaks
Carapace: 4 costal scutes,
overlapping and oval
Length: 90-110+cm
Head: curved beak, distinct
overbite, 2 pair of prefrontal
scales
Kemp’s Ridley
Coloration: gray to light olive
green
Carapace: round, 5-6 costal
scutes
Length: 70cm
Head: triangular, relatively large,
2 pair of prefrontal scales
Leatherback
Coloration: dark gray/black with
white spots
Carapace: tapered, leathery with
5 ridges
Length: 165-190+cm
Head: tooth-like notch on either
side of upper jaw, no scales
Loggerhead
Coloration: reddish brown/brown
Carapace: longer than wide, 5 or
more costal scutes, first pair very
small
Length: 90-110+cm
Head: large head, 4 or more
prefrontal scales
Florida Sea Turtles Dichotomous Key
Description
Identification
1a.
a.
b.
b.
2a.
a.
b.
b.
3a.
a.
b.
b.
4a.
a.
b.
b.
Dichotomous Key Flow Chart
Draw a flow chart, based on your dichotomous key, that will help you identify the 5 species of sea turtles
found in Florida waters.
Questions
1. Define dorsal: _________________________________________________________________
Define scute: __________________________________________________________________
2. In your own words, describe how a scientist uses a dichotomist key.
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3. Which sea turtle characteristic was most valuable to you when distinguishing between the
different sea turtles? Explain why was this characteristic is useful for identification?
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4. Which of these sea turtles has evolved the most unique characteristics? Describe the
difference between the characteristics of this sea turtle and the others.
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5. If you were snorkeling over a reef, explain how you would know if you were swimming next to a
Kemp’s Ridley or Loggerhead sea turtle?
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6. Discuss how size might affect a sea turtle’s diet, reproduction, population size and conservation
efforts.
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